A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and attempted murder after a mass stabbing in Southport.
Three children, six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, died as a result of the attack at The Hart Space community centre.
A “Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop” aimed at children aged between primary school years two and six (seven to 11 years old) was taking place at the time of the attack in the seaside town, which is north of Liverpool.
The suspect, who is from a nearby village in Banks in Lancashire, but was born in Cardiff, Wales, was arrested on Monday and a knife was seized by armed police.
He has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.
He will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court this morning.
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It comes after flares were thrown towards the gates of Downing Street as a violent protest broke out in London in the wake of the attack.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Whitehall as officers were seen putting on riot gear as some among the crowd threw cans and glass bottles.
Protesters later tried to kick down a fence as they were confronted by riot police.
Some among the crowd were heard shouting the name of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, while others shouted “Rule Britannia”, “save our kids” and “stop the boats”.
More than 100 people were arrested, the Metropolitan Police said. They were detained for offences including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker and breach of protest conditions, the force said.
Some officers sustained minor injuries, it added.
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